“I can’t get pregnant so we don’t have many talks about why that rule exists.” Rever glanced down to her stomach region and then he frowned, staring into her eyes. “You had an accident that damaged your female organs inside to make you unable to have offspring?”

“I have an Earth medical implant in my body that prevents me from getting pregnant until it is removed by a doctor.”

“You need to tell Ahhu of this. On Zorn we haven’t found an effective way to control not getting a woman pregnant. Our seed is very hardy and overcomes any medications our healers find to prevent it. She would be very interested in this thing you have in your body.”

“Shanna?”

The male roar of her name made Shanna jump, startling her. Her attention flew to the bedroom door and in seconds Berrr came hauling ass through it, out of breath and doing a fine impression of a dark thundercloud of rage. His blue eyes were filled with pure fury as he came to a halt, sweaty from obviously running. Their gazes locked for a split second before Berrr was in motion again. Rever moved out of his father’s way.

Berrr stormed for Shanna, only taking his gaze from her to glance at the blood on the floor he had to step over, and then he had his arms around her, yanking her off her feet, and he clutched her against his overheated body.

“I’m okay,” she muttered into his shirt, where her face ended up burrowed with Berrr holding her too tightly. “Seriously.”

“Don’t crush her,” Rever softly stated. “She claims to be bruised but fine. She was walking and talking well when I returned from notifying you.” Berrr shifted his hold on Shanna, one arm wrapped tightly around her waist to hoist her gently a little higher, his other hand gripped her around the back of her head to force her to look at his face, which was level with hers since he held her far from the floor. His expression was tight with fury but worried too as he studied her face and then their gazes locked.

“I’m really all right.”

Berrr growled and turned his head, glaring at his son. “Where are they?”

“Probably hiding,” Rever sighed. “They were caught attacking your human and they knew you would be displeased. You need to calm before you approach them, Father. I understand your rage but they are women. If they had attacked my Brenda I’d want to kill them but you can’t do that.”

Turning his head, Berrr stared into Shanna’s eyes. “What happened and who attacked you? I want all of their names.”

“Ovoly ordered me to tell you to mount all of them and when I refused they were all ticked at me.”

“It was all six of them,” Rever said softly. “I smelled each of them in here when I first carried her in.”

A vicious growl tore from Berrr as he kept his gaze locked with Shanna. “All six of them attacked you?”

She nodded, putting her hands on his shoulders, and rubbed him to calm him down because he looked as if he needed it. “I’m okay though. I told your son to go check on them because I think I really hurt a few of them. They didn’t expect me to be able to fight back as well as I did but your son saved my ass. They had me on the floor in the living room and I couldn’t get away. He scared them off.” Berrr growled deep in his chest, literally vibrating, and turned his head to glare at his son. “Get them out of my home now. They leave as they are and they take nothing of what I have given them.” He moved as he spoke, gently sitting Shanna down on the edge of the bed. “I don’t care where they go or to what kind of house they end up in. I want them gone and I want guards posted to protect Shanna in case they try to come back for vengeance. Do it now, son.”

Rever gave a nod. “I would do the same.”

“I’ll kill them if I ever see them again,” Berrr snarled.

“I’ll make sure they know that.” Rever walked away, leaving the room quickly.

Shanna stared up at Berrr, astounded that he’d get rid of his house helpers for her and knew it was because of what they’d done to her that he was kicking them out of his house. He turned his head to stare into Shanna’s eyes and his hand lifted to gently caress her cheek.

“No one will ever hurt you again, my Shanna. Let’s get your clothes off so I can see where they harmed you. A healer is on the way.”

A thought struck her. “What about your guests arriving tomorrow? If you get rid of all of your house helpers—”

Berrr snarled, cutting her off. “You are all that matters. I will deal with that mess later. My concern right now is making sure that you aren’t hurt severely.” His thumb brushed over the curve of her cheek softly. “Are you really unharmed?” Damn, Shanna thought, feeling her heart melt even more. I’m in love with you without a doubt. How can I not love you? You’re amazing. Smiling even though she was experiencing a little fear at being in love, she nodded.

“I’m much better now that you’re here with me, Berrr.”

“Then I won’t leave you alone again.”

Chapter Ten

Berrr really wasn’t planning on leaving her side. Shanna forced a smile the next morning while standing in the living room with Berrr’s hand gently curved around her back. She tried not to gape at the four large Zorn men who walked into the front door.

These were the Vartas and they weren’t what she’d imagined in the least. She’d expected dignified, perhaps leather-outfitted military types, but never the males who walked in the front door.

One of them looked old enough to be Berrr’s grandfather and it was a shock to see a white-haired, huge male, bent with advanced age, who obviously was once a kick-ass warrior. The guy barely wore clothing, just a loincloth wrapped over his waist, and all of his body hair was as white as his head. He came forward first to greet Berrr, his bright green gaze fixing on Shanna, who lowered her own gaze to the floor just as Berrr had instructed her to do. Zorn women did not stare into men’s eyes or it was an invitation to get friendly in a sexual nature.

“Hyvin Berrr,” the older warrior rumbled when he spoke, his voice rough and raspy. “Is this a human from Earth?”

The hand on Shanna’s back tensed before it slid to her side, tugging her back a good foot, putting Berrr more in front of her than next to her. She glanced up and saw the other man had lifted his hand to touch her but now she was out of his reach. A low growl issued from Berrr.